The Ides of March

I like to walk and think about what I will write. And, seriously, I have taken a lot of steps to try to start a post. I realized there was no real way to open a blog about stress, fear for our field, fear for our students, fear for ourselves more eloquently than just being honest. Many of my friends are back to wondering if teaching is still the career for them, after just recommitting after the stress of the COVID 19 pandemic and its aftermath. I vacillate between reading the news all day and not wanting to know what’s happening. It can be so demoralizing to hear people without experience in education make decisions, opine, and rail against the current structures we have in place. Is the current system perfect? Of course not. Is it equitable? Not yet. But the conversation about reform needs to come from within, not without. And so, I feel and think so much about the state of things, and can get trapped in overwhelm. I have diligently called and written my local, state and national representatives. I have kept current with updates from watchdog groups and advocacy groups. I want to do more.

So, I want to invite you again, to Nurture Our Nature Collective events. We have the ability to be flexible and responsive to members’ need. We can talk about what is going on, or not. Since it is a collective, the folks in the room get to choose the direction we take. But if that feels like too much, just know that it is there if you need it. Please get outside when you can. Nature has been shown again and again to help regulate the nervous system, help push back at depression, and contribute to overall health. And remember, find a way to take care of yourself and making time for it is not selfish; it’s necessary.